Reversible drive for rotary printing unit



July 22, 1958 c. A. HARLESS REVERSIBLE DRIVE FOR ROTARY PRINTING UNIT Filed Feb. 11, 1953 3 Sheets Sheet 1 Fig. 3

Fig. 2

INVENTOR. g' /fmus 4. fimcss g a July 22, 1958 c. A. HARLESS 2,844,095

- REVERSIBLE DRIVE FOR ROTARY PRINTING UNIT Filed Feb. 11, 1953 V v v v :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gamma A Minus July 22, 1958 c. A. HARLEss 2,844,095

REVERSIBLE DRIVE FOR ROTARY PRINTING UNIT. v Filed Feb. 11, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. gZ/mzes 4 Hanna United States Patent Q REVERSIBLE DRIVE FOR ROTARY PRINTING UNIT (Iharles A. Harless, Riverside, Conn., assignor to R. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 11, 1953, Serial No. 336,235 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-180) This invention relates to improvements in printing unit drives.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with drives for units, in which a pair of printing couples are carried in a common frame structure, and in which the gearing of the two couples is interconnected.

It is an object of the invention to provide a reversing drive for a unit of the type indicated, in which the backlash is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive in which the center part of the unit may be open and unobstructed, permitting free access to the ink motions and to the cylinders for threading a Web through the unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drive having components adaptable to reversing and to a nonreversing arrangement, permitting conversion of a stand-' ard or non-reversing unit to reversing operation at minimum expense.

A unit embodying the invention in apreferredform will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and the features forming the invention will then be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic, indicating printing cylinder an ink motion locations of a printing unit;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the upper part of the unit, showing a gear arrangement embodying the invention in a preferred form;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the gearing of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a developed view of the gearing of Figure 2, thesection being taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on an enlarged scale of part of Figure 4, showing the gear and bearing arrangement associated with an impression cylinder;

Figure 6 is a detail of a gear coupling and uncoupling device of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a developed view, similar to Figure 4, but showing the gearing arranged for standard or nonreversing operation;

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 5, but showing the non-reversing arrangement of Figure 7; and

v Figure 9 is a partial section of the coupling and uncoupling device.

In Figure 1 there is indicated schematically a well known arch type printing unit, having-impression cylinders 1 and 2 and cooperating plate cylinders 3 and 4, together with their ink motions and suitable guide rollers for leading a web W through the unit without reversal for printing an impression on each side thereof, as indicated in the solid line web lead, or for leading a web through the unit for printing two impressions or colors on one side thereof, as indicated in dotted lines. The frame in general may be of conventional construction, and is indicated in phantom outline. v

In Figure 2, the upper part or cross piece 5, together with the tops of the two legs 6 and 7 of the frame strucice ture are shown. The impression cylinders 1, 2 and the plate or form cylinders 3, 4 are journaled in the frame structure in the usual way, the impression cylinders being carried in fixed bearings (Figure 4) and the bearings for the plate cylinders being carried in eccentric rings 10, so as to permit adjusting the impression pressure by moving the plate cylinder slightly toward or away from its cooperating impression cylinder. The means for accomplishing this adjustment forms no part of the present inventionl It is' described in detail in Harless et al. application Serial No. 312,618, filed October 1, 1952, for Impression Adjusting Mechanism for Printing Presses, and such description will not be repeated herein.

Plate cylinder 3 is driven off impression cylinder 1 by interrneshing gears Hand 12 fixed to the cylinder shafts, and plate cylinder 4 is driven olf impression cylinder 2 by similar gears 13 and 14.

An axially movable idle or intermediate gear 15 (Figures 2, 3 and 4) is provided, and its bearing is carried on an axially slidable shaft 16, one end of which is carried in a'plate 17 attached to the frame structure 5 and the other end of which is carried in a split clamp 18 mounted o a bracket19 fixed to the frame structure 5. The clamp 18 maybe closed up to grip the shaft 16 firmly by means of a screw 20, or the screw 20 may be loosened to permit axial-movement of the gear 15. In the front end of the shaft 16 is a threaded bore for taking the threaded tip of a hand tool 63, as is shown in Figures 3 and 4, for moving the gear 15 into or out-of meshing engagement with the gears 12 and 14. Accordingly, the gear 15 may be located in a position where it meshes with the impression cylinder gears 12 and 14 (Figure 4), or it may he slid back into a recess 21 within the frame 5 so as not to engage these gears. In Figure 3, the gear 15 is shown in an intermediate position, half way engaging with the gears 12 and 14.

A pair of large gears 22 and 24 are also mounted on the impression cylinder shafts, as later described in detail, and are provided with arrangements for coupling them to the gears 12 and 14 and thus to the impression cylinder shafts, or for uncoupling them, to permit them to run idle.

The drive is brought up from the subjacent main drive shaft or other unit driving mechanism by a vertical shaft 25,.which through a bevel gear 26 drives a bevel gear 27 fixed to a shaft 28 journaled in the frame structure 5 and further supporting frame structure 29, as indicated. Gear 30 also-fixed to the shaft 28 drives the gear wheel 24.

The normal or forward direction of rotation is, as

usual' in this type of unit, such that the impression cylinder 1 rotates clockwise and the impression cylinder 2 rotates counter clockwise, the direction of rotation being such as to bring the web upwardly and outwardly from both linesof impression. For this type of operation, the idle gear 15 ispushed back into the recess 21, the gear wheels 22 and 24 are coupled to the impression cylinder shafts in driving connection therewith, and the drive is, accordingly, from pinion 30 to gear 24 and from gear 24 to gear 22.. The impression cylinders, in this arrangement, are driven in opposite directions as is appropriate for forward operation, and the plate cylinders are driven in the appropriate direction by reason of their coupling to the impression cylinders through the gear pairs 11, 12 and 13, 14.

To reverse the couple 1, 3, the gear 15 is slid forward so as to mesh withthe gears 12 and 14, and the gear 22 is disconnected and permitted to run idle. The couple 2, 4 will then run in the ahead direction as before, while the couple 1, 3. will be reversed due to the interposition ofjthe idle 'gear wheel 15 between the couples. Under these conditions, the web may be led downwardly through couple 1, 3-and upwardly out through couple-2, 4, along the dotted line path indicated in Figure 1. If it is desired to reverse the couple 2, 4, the gearing is arranged as for reversing the coupling 1, 3, but the gear 24 is disconnected so as to run idle and the gear 22 is connected to the gear 12 so as to drive the impression cylinder 1. In this case, the web may be led along the dotted line path of Figure 1, but in the opposite direction, passing downwardly and inwardly through the couple 2, 4 and upwardly and outwardly through the couple 1, 3.

The various bearings and gears may be shrunk fitted on the shafts, as indicated in Figure 4, the arrangement and method shown in Harless et al. application Serial No. 301,066, filed July 26, 1952, for Attachment of Gears to Tapered Shaft Ends, being suitable for this purpose, and are conveniently of composite construction, as indicated, the gear teeth being formed on a ring which is fastened to the arm or web of the gear by bolts, as indicated.

The gear mounting of the two impression cylinders will be the same, and this mounting is shown in detail in Figure 5, with reference to the impression cylinder 1. The large gear 22 is carried on anti-friction bearings 35 and 36, the respective inner races of which are carried on the hub of the gear 12 (which hub must be accurately concentric) and on a shaft extension 37 fixed to the end of the impression cylinder shaft by means of a bolt 38 and washer 39. A ring 40 bolted to the gear 22 forms an enclosure or oil housing for the bearings, which are suitably related to shoulders formed on the two gears and to the washer 39 for holding the gear 22 in position against any axial thrust resulting from the use of helical gear teeth, as indicated.

The gear 22 comprises a center piece 41, including the hub and web of the gear, and a rim 42 on which the teeth are formed and which is held to the member 41 by bolts 43 and washers 44.

The means for coupling and uncoupling the gear 22 to the gear 12 and hence to the impression cylinder shaft comprises a member 45 rotatable in the gear part 41 and carrying at its inner end an enlarged head 46 (Figures 5, 6 and 9) of something less than semi-circular section. This eccentric head 46 may be rotated to the position of Figures and 6 so as to fit within a cut out or seat 47 formed in the gear 12 or may be rotated through 180, so as to be positioned radially inward of a generally circular rim 48 of the gear 12 in which the cut out 47 is formed. In the former position, the eccentric 46 couples gears 12 and 22 rigidly together, and in the latter position, it disconnects them and permits gear 22 to run free on the impression cylinder shaft. The member 45 has an operating handle 50 (Figures 2 and 5) which may be turned so as to couple and uncouple the gears 22 and 12 as desired. In either position, the motion is limited by a stop pin 50 (Figure 2), and the handle 50 is securely locked in position by tightening up nut 50" (Figure 9) which is, of course, backed off or loosened prior to making the adjustment.

The gearing is constructed so as to be adapted to either a standard or reversing unit, with a minimum of noninterchangeable parts. In particular, the rim 42 of the gear 22 is formed with an inner annular radial flange 51 on one edge or face of the rim, this flange fitting within the corresponding circumferential groove 52 formed on the member 41, as indicated in Figure 5. Where a standard or non-reversing unit is desired (Figures 7 and 8), the member 41 and its associated bearings, together with the shaft extension 37 may be removed. The rim 42 is now reversed so as to bring the flange 51 toward the frame, as indicated in Figure 8, and it is fitted into a circumferential groove 53 formed on the gear 12, the gear rim 42 being fixed to the gear 12 by means of bolts 43 and washers 44 screwed into threaded bores in the gear 12 instead of in the gear member 41, as indicated in Figure 8. The washer 39 is fastened to the impression cylinder shaft by means of the bolt 38 for holding the hub of as the other impression cylinder, 1, is concerned.

,4 the gear 12 in position thereon, and for closing 01f any oil passages which may be provided for shrink fitting the bearing and gear to the shaft. The bracket 19, plate 17 and idle gear 15 and its shaft and bearings are not provided for the standard or non-reversing unit, the gearing for which is shown in Figure 7. In the standard or nonreversing unit, the drive is by pinion 30 to gear 24 which drives the impression cylinder 2 and from gear 24 to gear 22 which drives the impression cylinder 1, the plate cylinders 3 and 4 being driven off their impression cylinders, as before. To convert the standard unit to reversing operation, involves merely the addition of the required extra parts to etfect the change from the gearing arrangement of Figure 8 to that of Figure 5 for the two impression cylinders. It will be observed that all parts of the standard unit of Figure 8 may be utilized, conversion to the reversing unit of Figure 5, requiring only the supplying of the additional parts shown, and the addition of the idle gear 15 and associated structures. The entire gear structure may be enclosed in a housing 60, as indicated in Figure 3, which housing may be the same for both the standard and reversing unit.

The reversing controls are all arranged at the same end of the printing unit, so that access may be had through a relatively small opening in the housing 60, which is normally closed by a cover plate 61, removably held in place by bolts 62, as indicated. Since it is ordinarily unnecessary to remove the housing 60, generally, for making an operating adjustment, supporting structure such as the structure 29 supporting the bearing of shaft 28 may be formed integral with part of the housing.

The structure of the invention thus provides a drive gearing arrangement in which provision is made for reversing either couple, with the gears located above the floor and on only one side of the press, the gearing being completely enclosed but accessible for all necessary adjustments by removing only the small cover plate 61.

As indicated above, the drive of the invention has important advantages in the reduction of backlash, by comparison with unit drive arrangements as now used.

The backlash in units of the type involved may be classified as fixed and variable, the backlash between the impression cylinder and its cooperating plate cylinder being variable by reason of the fact that the center distances between these cylinders is adjusted slightly for controlling the impression pressure. Between fixed centers, such as the axes of the impression cylinders 1 and 2, the backlash may be, for example, about .010 inch, While between adjustable centers, such as the axes of plate cylinder 3 and impression cylinder 1, the average backlash will be greater, as, for example, .018 inch. These figures will be increased by wear after long operation.

Considering first the standard unit drive as indicated in Figure 7, it will be observed that the backlash from the pinion 30 to the various cylinders is composed of the fixed backlash between gears 30 and 24, so far as impression cylinder 2 is concerned, and this backlash plus the fixed backlash between gears 24 and 22, so far It will be apparent that this is minimum backlash so far as the impression cylinders are concerned. The backlash from pinion 30 to the plate cylinders 3 and 4 will be increased, with reference to that of the corresponding impression cylinders, by one variable backlash in each case, which, again, represents a minimum backlash con dition. In the standard unit, the backlash between impression cylinders, which essentially affects the web starting is reduced to a minimum. The plate cylinder backlash which relates principally to register, and is important in the reversing operation involved in color printing, is not essentially involved.

In the drives heretofore used commercially for driving the arch type units, the plate cylinder gear forms an intermediate driving connection, thus introducing at least one variable backlash between the couples. The advantage of the present construction over such arrangements will be apparent.

For a reversing operation (Figures 2, 3 and 4), one additional fixed backlash (idle gear 15) is inserted between couples, and the situation where the couple 1, 3 is being reversed is not otherwise different from the standard or non-reversing arrangement. It is apparent that this represents a minimum backlash condition. Where couple 2, 4 is to be reversed, thetotal backlash to this couple is increased since the drive is from gear 30 to gear 24, to gear 22 (driving gear 12) and from gear 12 through the idle gear 15 to gear 14. There is, however, no variable backlash between couples. It will be observed that when one of the couples is reversed so thatthe two couples may print on the same side of the web for multicolor printing, there is no variable backlash between couples and the total backlash is reduced to a minimum.

In comparing thedrive of the present invention with the drives principally used in arch type printing units heretofore, it will be found that the drive arrangement of the present invention involves no increase of backlash from plate cylinder to plate cylinder, and a reduction of backlash betweenimpression cylinders, by eliminating variable backlash. Assuming the backlash figures stated above as typical, the reduction-in backlash between impression cylinders may, therefore, be from about .046 to .010 inch.

In the reversing operation, by comparison with one of the previously used drives, the drive of the invention involves no increase in backlash from plate to plate, and, again, a reduction of backlash from impression to impression by eliminating two points of variable backlash, so that assuming the figures stated above as typical, the backlash between impression cylinders may be reduced from about .056 inch to .020 inch.

In another widely used reversible drive, the backlash involved may be comparable to that obtained by the present invention, when the unit is operated with a couple reversed, but this result is obtained only by utilizing gearing at both ends of the cylinders with disadvantages which will be apparent. Also, in this prior reversing unit, the backlash from impression to impression will, as stated above, be very much greater when operating without reversing a couple.

In addition to providing for reversal, the gearing of the invention also provides for silencing either couple when desired. Thus, either couple may be driven without driving the other by placing idle gear 15 in its inoperative position, and coupling one of the gears 22, 24 to gear 12 or 14 and uncoupling the other.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the drive may be led up to the unit through a shaft 25 which is positioned over the legs 7 of the arch and does not obstruct the center opening between the legs of the arch, so that full access to the printing cylinders and ink motions is permitted. Also, no drive gearing is required at the opposite ends of the cylinders, so that the shafting is available without interference for attachment of any ink motion gears or for the mounting of any other desired mechanisms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing machine unit comprising a pair of printing couples having their shafts journaled in a common frame structure, the combination with the cylinder shafts of a drive mechanism comprising a pair of meshing gears, one gear of the pair being rotatably carried on a said shaft of each of the couples, means for selectively coupling each said gear to its shaft and uncoupling it therefrom, a second gear fixed to each of the two said shafts, the two said second gears being out of mesh, an idle gear for forming a driving connection between the two said second gears, means mounting the idle gear for movement between a position connecting the two said second gears and a position disconnecting them, and

, means for driving one of the gears of the first mentioned pair.

2. ,In a printing machine unit comprising a pair of printing couples having their shafts journaled in a common frame structure, the combination with the cylinder shafts of a drive mechanism comprising a pair of mesh- ,ing gears, one gear of the pair being rotatably carried on a said shaft of each of the couples, means for selectively coupling each said gearto its shaft and uncoupling it therefrom, a smaller gear fixed to each of the two said shafts, an idle .gear for forminga driving connection between the two .said smaller gears, means mounting .the idle gear for movement between a position meshing with the twosaid smaller gears and a position out of mesh therewith, and means for driving one of the gears of the first mentioned pair.

3. In a printing machine unitcomprising a pair of printing couples havingrtheir shafts journaled in a common frame structure,.the combination with the cylinder shafts of a drive mechanism comprising a pair of meshing gears, one gear of the pair being rotatably carried on asaid'shaft of each ofthe couples, means for selectively coupling each said gearto its shaft and uncoupling it therefrom, a smaller gear fixed to each of the two said shafts, an idle gear for forming a driving connection between the two said smaller gears, means mounting the idle gear forlaxial movement between a position meshing .with the two said smaller gears and .a position out of mesh th rewith, and means ,for driving one of the gears of thefirst mentioned pair.

4. In a printing machine unit comprising a pair of impression cylinders and cooperating plate cylinders, all having their shafts journaled in a common frame structure, the combination with the cylinder shafts of a drive mechanism comprising a pair of meshing gears, one gear of the pair being rotatably carried on each impression cylinder shaft, means for selectively coupling each said gear to its shaft and uncoupling it therefrom, a smaller gear fixed to each of the impression cylinder shafts, an idle gear for forming a driving connection between the two said smaller gears, means mounting the idle gear for axial movement between a position meshing with the two said smaller gears and a position out of mesh therewith, means for driving one of the gears of the first mentioned pair and gears carried by the plate cylinder shafts and meshing with the said smaller gears for driving the plate cylinders.

5. In a printing machine unit comprising a pair of impression cylinders and cooperating plate cylinders, all having their shafts journaled in a common frame structure, the combination with the cylinder shafts of a drive mechanism comprising a pair of meshing gears, one gear of the pair being rotatably carried on each impression cylinder shaft, a smaller gear fixed to each of the two said shafts, an idle gear for forming a driving connection between the two said smaller gears, means mounting the idle gear for axial movement between a position meshing with the two said smaller gears and a position out of mesh therewith, means for selectively coupling each of the first said pair of gears to the said smaller gear on its impression cylinder shaft and uncoupling it therefrom, and means for driving one of the gears of the first mentioned pan.

6. The combination according to claim 5, in which the means for coupling the gears of the first said pair to the said smaller gears comprise pins carried by the gears of the first said pair and engageable in the respective smaller gears, and means for moving the said pins between engaging and non-engaging positions and for locking them in the said positions.

7. The combination according to claim 6, in which the said pins are rotatably carried in the gears of the first said pair and have eccentric heads, and in which the said smaller gears have recesses adapted to receive the said heads in one rotary position of the pins, and

are constructed so as to provide clearance'for the said heads in another rotary position of the pins.

8. In a printing machine unit comprising a pair of adja cent impression cylinders and cooperating plate cylinders having their shafts carried in a common frame structure and including means for adjusting the plate cylinders toward and away from their cooperating impression cylinders, the combination with the cylinder shafts of a gear carried by an impression cylinder shaft, means for driving the said gear and for coupling it to its shaft for driving the shaft, a second gear meshing with the first gear and rotatively carried on the other impression cylinder shaft, means for selectively coupling the second gear to its shaft and uncoupling it therefrom, a smaller gear fixed to each impression cylinder shaft, gears fixed to the plate cylinder'shafts and meshing with the smaller gears for driving the plate cylinders with their cooperating impression cylinders, an idle gear, and means for moving the idle gear between a position meshing with the said smaller gears to form a drive connection between them and a position disconnecting said drive connection.

9. The combination according to claim 8, comprising also means rotatably carrying the first mentioned gear on its impression cylinder shaft and for uncoupling it from the said shaft so as to permit it to rotate freely thereon.

10. The combination according to claim 8 comprising also a housing enclosing one of said gearing and having an opening for providing access to the said coupling means and to the means for moving the idle gear, and a removable cover plate enclosing the said opening.

11. The combination according to claim 10, in which the said meansfor selectively coupling the second gear to its shaft comprises an operating member carried by the said gear adjacent'its rim, whereby when the said gear is rotated to bring the coupling member adjacent 'members adjacent each other, and comprising also a housing enclosing all the said gearing and having an opening for providing access to the means for moving the idle gear and to the said operating members when the gears are so turned, and a removable cover plate closing the said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,073 Freeman May 30, 1911 1,109,900 Coleman Sept. 8, 1914 1,418,447 Leipert June 6, 1922 1,922,439 Jackson Aug. 15, 1933 2,102,631 Lamatsch Dec. 21, 1937 2,597,932 Huck et al May 27, 1952 2,704,464 Lautenbach et al Mar. 22, 1955 

